Are you sure your getting Salvia officinalis ? There are many varieties of Salvias (Sage) that aren't meant for consumption. Also, hot weather brings out the strongest oils in any herb. Right now none are going to be very strong... too cold/cool.

What varieties have you tried? You might want to get Extrakta Sage or White Dalmation sage (both Salvia officinalis). I think Berggarten and Holt's Mammoth are pretty, but not as intensely flavored. Also, how are you drying your sage? I like to dry my sage whole, on the stem, then crumble (rub) just before use. If you rub the sage and store it, the volatile oils tend to dissipate and the flavor is adversely affected. Good luck with one of my favorite herbs!

sauers is officianalis for sure... "common" sage.

as herbalbetty says don't crush it until you're ready to use it.

on an entirely different note- i used to live near the sauer's plant in richmond- you could smell various spices for blocks around at various times...

I like my regular Salvia officinalis, garden sage (no variety listed) for fresh use.

Last year, I also bought Berggarten. I wasn't impressed with it for fresh use, but I dried some for winter use. WOW. It is the most amazing dried sage I've ever tasted. Way better than the typical garden sage. I had someone who is an amazing cook try some and he agreed that it was the best he'd had (can you say Port-sage reduction?)

Bellatrix

Any Salvia officinalis grown in your own garden and used fresh or dried is going to beat the pants off anything bought in the store! ;)

FataMorgana

I know this is an old post of mine. I have had a hard time starting from seed so I bought another "common or garden" sage this year. The other is one I started from seed (finally) and it is "culinary" sage.

The "common or garden" has rounded leaves and the culinary has long pointed leaves.

The "common or garden" smells stronger than the culinary. I have tried using both of them fresh and I'm not getting any flavor on either.

Drying doesn't seem to work well either. Am I drying it wrong? I am air drying on the counter of my kitchen. Should I use my dehydrator?

Do they need to be older? They aren't woody yet, they still have green stems.

Thanks for any help!

How much water do you give them? Herbs kept on the dry side generally have more flavor than those really flush with water.

FataMorgana

I never water, rain is all they get and it has been dry.

I have rooted a lot of cuttings before. The fresh sage in the grocery stores around here are not woody, just green stems with leaves, so I haven't tried to root one.

Speaking of rooting hormones, I use cuttings from willow trees, wild, weeping or whatever I can find. I put them in the water with whatever I want to root and they always root! I learned that from my Dad, he always used willow.

Re: "The fresh sage in the grocery stores around here are not woody, just green stems with leaves, so I haven't tried to root one."

Same thing here. the green stems will root, too. the best ones are where the stem was so long they folded it over to get it in the package. The lower part of that, strip away all the large leaves, and leave only the two small side sprouts from the top node on the stem and put that in your rooting solution.

BTW, sage wood is an excellent addition to any kind of smoked BBQ. I add sage wood for the last 20 minutes or so, for some added flavor for smoked pork or chicken.

Re: "Speaking of rooting hormones, I use cuttings from willow trees, wild, weeping or whatever I can find."

That's one I have never heard. I do have a couple of willows on the property here somewhere. I'll have to try that. I learned something here today.

OK! Thanks, I learned something too! I thought they would have to be in a "woody" stage before rooting!

Yes, the willow works great, A lot of old-timers used it. My Uncle had a large pecan grove and he would root pecan cuttings that way. I think I read about it later on in Mother Earth News also.

If you want some cuttings from mine with a bit of wood on the bottom of the cutting, message me here with a private message. I'll be harvesting/pruning one of my sage bushes in the next week or two. I can mail some cuttings your way if you want.

Thanks so much, for the generous offer! I bought some fresh organic sage today from fresh market, with the hopes of getting some to root. I have them in water with willow cuttings now! If I can't get any to root I will get back to you!